New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-09
srcrrrEr rnLrNLY.S EEroEE

Secretary Whitney is proGtlng by experience,
but stll has something 10 learn. His third
annual report is the most pIaclIcal ana brN'-
ucSs-lilc one which he has prepared, but It IS
not free from the faint cf IaIilSanShip which
has been his bcsctting sin. In the course Of
his administration of the Navy Department Ec
has constantly sought to provide Democratic
uewspapcrs with pointers against the late MI
Roach and those 'dIcadfuly corrupt RcpuD-
lean predecessors who preceded him. IhS
report has "A passage Of this hInd which those
journals are expected 10 display II lcialcS
to the Tennessee. the expense of keeping her
in repair during twenty years. and the hGht the
Transaction throws on Ii, publican naval policy.
his bit Of history" the secretary Offers - IN
explanation Of thc mcagrc results from the
expenditure of S.O.OOOOOO since the war.
Did Nou say $4,000 OOO Ar Secretary
Why. if there be any noion Of Il iwid pliti>;in
llnJuiuaiion that j. dear 10 the DcmOcihtlc
meant II Is the uit-Icpcatcd declaration 81 The
organs tina. over ?iOO,OVD.OOO WAC expended
in twenty Years by predatory Republican ad-
ninstIations in repairing Worthless wooden
ships This was the estimate gwen ny senator
Vest in one oi ms icrv.I speeches last spIinS'
Trades against Republican cNtIavagancc are
based. Faithful Organs may revolt against INC
Secretary when they mad hIn s'a-ine down the
L.ulc, 10 Il bc,,An! 9'OVOJ'OOJ.
Without gong INTO details regarding the
Tennessee. We must express gratltudc to Hrc-
ictaIy Whitney for announcing o'l'la.I! mat
The sum cAp,ndcd Oh repairs dunn6 t"'nt!
years OF Republican administration dId not
exceed S1O.OOOOOO, on 9@,JOO,OOO annua ~.
/ hc old ship, had To be constantly repair q
during twelve out Of those twenty years for the
simple reason that a Democratic House per
sisted in blocking every bii for the cOnSliuc-
lion Of new vessels. Successive Rcpubhc.sn
administrations were forced 10 choose between
remaining those vessels and having 10 Navy
ut all; ana III the circumstances inc cApcnd-
tulc of 80 800, 900 WAS not higher than II
ought to have been. The best wooden ship
that ever was buiit can ony last limited
number Of years, and even then It requires
constant remaining Republican Secretaries
did the best they could IN The face Of adverse
votes in the Democratic House on al constIuc-
tlom schemes. They recommended steel ships
long before keel, Tor the lIst four were laId,
and favored them on the ground Of superior
durability and the reduction Of the cost Of
keeping them in repair. This is the great
point in favor Of steel over wooden ships.
albeit Captain Buncc is doing his best to have
the Atlanta reconstructed al Il cost Of 5000 900
before she has been year ~ commission.
or tho main recommendations III secretary
Whncys report there is little to be said IN
criticism. He avoids controversial matters
like the reorganization Of the bureaus and the
designs Of the Roach vessels. and presents
report in which there is li'i" that is either
fresh or noteworthy. lie naturally rcicls
with tokens Of sciG-apprccation 10 the arrange
mcnts made for cquIpping the Washington
Navy Yard rs an ordnance factory and for
furnishing the Government with steel forgings
for guns and ainOr for rOndrds. The credit
for all these undertakings belongs largely 10
his predecessor, whose plans have been caricd
cut Still, We arc not disposed TO quarrel with
Secretary Whitney for exploiting everything
that is res 'ly cIcdtablc in his administration
On the contrary he is to be commended for
carrying out the policy of his predecessor and
Tor the interest he is taking in building new
Navy. May his new ships prove fast. and
Stanch as we'll.